Coudal links up More Party Animals, which is good design fun, and has a bit of a point:

More Party Animals is an apolitically-political idea born out of a heartfelt disenchantment with the status quo. As the current system continues to polarize this country, we strongly believe America is in need of a wider selection of political parties.

We say our idea is apolitical because More Party Animals is steadfastly devoted to being policy-free. Our animals represent a potential symbol for new beliefs, not the beliefs themselves. That, we leave up to you.

Our purpose is to encourage and help people start their own party, promote their own ideas and create a genuine alternative that might actually catch on. More choices leads to better results…it’s the American way.

Are red white and blue so engrained in the design palette of the American political system? Apparently so. At least the quixotic usage of the elephant and donkey provide some fodder to build on for political design fun. And they look good on t-shirts, too.

The UpTake had this interesting video to share about the protests at RNC Convention next year:

As the RNC Presidential Convention approaches many questions have been raised regarding the access and legal framework of demonstrations. During a forum at St. Thomas University last week citizens were able to ask questions of St. Paul Police leadership. Many members of the peace community were present.

The focus of the forum was on “community policing” and civil disobedience. Assistant Chief Matthew Bostrom, in charge of RNC Convention affairs, did the bulk of the speaking and set the bar high for himself and his office, saying that access will not be limited to “pens” for demonstrations and that the Secret Service would not take over security around the city.

The UnConvention won’t be involved in any protesting activity directly, but we suspect some of the people who participate in our events might. It is good news for Democracy, too.

We’ve officially announced The UnConvention. Here’s the media release:

The UnConvention: Prominent Minnesota Cultural Organizations Convene to Focus on Non-Partisan Creative Civic Engagement Around 2008 Republican National Convention

Minneapolis, MN—The UnConvention is a unique project that seeks to evolve the definition of civic engagement to include experimentation in art, education, and journalism, and to create a better-informed and more politically active citizenry. Over the next year and a half, organizations affiliated with the UnConvention will host lectures, workshops, classes and exhibitions based on the theme of participatory democracy.

The mission of The UnConvention is twofold:

1. To create and promote artistic and educational activities (exhibitions, lectures, performances, etc.) that will take place in the Twin Cities during the lead-up and staging of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul/ Minnesota
2. To be a resource for artists and the alternative media that will converge on the Twin Cities during the Republican National Convention.

The UnConvention is about participation and democracy, the public sphere, media, and creativity—not a critique of the Republican Party and its policies. A non-partisan collective of leaders from prominent cultural organizations and citizens have come together to create a forum in which to promote the free, democratic, and creative exchange of ideas on important issues. It exists as a counterpoint to the highly scripted and predetermined nature of the contemporary presidential nomination process and convention.

Current participating organizations include:

• The Dept. of Media Studies, Carleton College (www.carleton.edu)
• the Institute for New Media Studies, University of Minnesota (www.inms.umn.edu)
• Intermedia Arts, including the Northern Lights program of Intermedia Arts (www.intermediaarts.org)
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design (www.mcad.edu)
• Popular Front (www.popularfront.com)
• Sandbox Studios (www.sandboxstudios.net)
• Walker Art Center (www.walkerart.org)

“As we have seen throughout American history, political party conventions are places where creative action and participatory democracy are enacted. These caucuses generate large responses from across the political spectrum.” say John Schott, Daniel Gumnit, and Nora Paul, three the founders of the UnConvention.

The UnConvention website, www.theunconvention.com, will serve as a central organizing space for these two goals. The site currently features information on the project, related activities, and a Blog and will include forums, a calendar of related activities, resources for journalists and visiting artists, and an archive of press and activities.

To get more information or get involved email: steeringcommittee@TheUnconvention.org.

Attached is the same in PDF format: The UnConvention Media Release.